Unlocking the potential of higher education institutions for innovation and entrepreneurship
What is the EIT’s HEI Initiative
The EIT’s HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education is a joint EIT Community activity coordinated by EIT RawMaterials. The initiative is a key objective for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as part of its new strategy, the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021−2027. The initiative aims to support higher education institutions with expertise and coaching, access to the EIT innovation ecosystem, and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans complementing the needs of individual higher education institutions.
Institutional change
Partnerships
Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Knowledge sharing
EIT’s HEI Initiative main phase
The first three years of the EIT’s HEI Initiative, 2021−2023, have been designated as the pilot Phase, which will be followed by the main phase − 2024−2027:
EIT HEI Initiative annual calls for proposals
The EIT’s HEI Initiative organises annual calls for proposals, inviting European higher education institutions to design institution-wide action plans that will improve their entrepreneurial and innovation capacity across all institutional levels. By supporting such activities, this new EIT initiative will create systemic impact, empowering HEIs to become regional engines of innovation and foster sustainable growth and jobs across Europe.
The organisations and countries eligible to participate in the Calls for Proposals include:
- Higher education institutions one of which must be a KIC partner
- Public bodies at local, regional or national level
- Public or private, small, medium or large enterprises
- Intermediary organisations or associations which represent Higher Education Institutions
- Research institutions
- Horizon Europe countries
Projects can focus on several themes, including:
- Fostering institutional engagement and change;
- Strengthening partnerships between higher education, business and research organisations;
- Developing innovation and business support services;
- Enhancing the quality of entrepreneurial education;
- Creating and disseminating knowledge.
To succeed in the green and digital transitions and build a better future, Europe needs to nurture its talent.
This is why this EIT initiative is important: it helps European universities grow their innovation potential and build the capacity to teach innovation and entrepreneurship. After the successful pilot phase, training over 40 000 students and staff, I am eager to see what this initiative will achieve with a broader reach and more partners.
European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Embedding higher education into the innovation ecosystem is a distinct EIT feature and I welcome the launch of this new initiative to strengthen our collaboration with HEIs.
The EIT Community will now have the opportunity to engage with higher education at all levels to help boost their innovation capacity. I am confident that we will see the emergence of even stronger and more entrepreneurially equipped universities whose guidance and expertise will support Europe’s ability to innovate.
Chair of the EIT Governing Board
